By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria’s beach volleyball duo, Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence, have revived their medal hopes at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after defeating Egypt 2-0, while table tennis star Matthew Kuti recorded his first victory in the competition.
Bawa and Lawrence bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Japan to overcome Egypt’s Marwa Mamdouh Salem Saleh and Karma Badawy 21-19, 21-11 on Sunday, keeping their hopes of advancing in the competition alive.
In table tennis, Kuti defeated Tunisia’s Youssef Aidli 3-1 in a men’s singles preliminary match to register his first win in Senegal.
The African Youth Cup champion recovered from an opening 3-0 defeat to Hong Kong’s Ho Ki Li, winning the first two sets against Aidli 11-8, 11-8. Although the Tunisian claimed the third set 11-9, Kuti responded with an 11-7 victory in the fourth to seal the match.
Kuti will face Italy’s Francesco Travesan in his final group match, needing another victory to strengthen his chances of reaching the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Favour Ojo lost 3-1 to Egypt’s Elbadawy Yara in the women’s singles. After winning the opening set 11-9, Ojo lost the next three 9-11, 6-11, 9-11, ending her singles campaign.
Nigeria’s contingent will continue its quest for medals as competition intensifies at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
